beep

1 of 2

verb

ˈbēp 

beeped; beeping; beeps

transitive verb

1

: to cause to sound

beep a horn

2

: to send a message to (someone) with a beeper

Dr. Khoury was beeped to perform an emergency operation at American University Hospital.

—Scot Macleod

intransitive verb

1

: to sound a horn

2

: to make a beep

beep

2 of 2

noun

: a short usually high-pitched sound (as from a horn or an electronic device) that serves as a signal or warning

Examples of beep in a Sentence

Verb

Why did you beep your horn at her?

She beeped at me first.

Something is beeping in the kitchen.

I could hear a beeping noise.

Noun

the beep of a car horn

Please leave a message after the beep.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

In the hallways, construction was underway with the sound of grinding and beeping, and the smell of fresh paint. —Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025

More expensive waffle makers accompany these lights with a beeping or buzzing sound. —Bestreviews, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2025

Noun

Out in traffic, the white, yellow and red warning markers appeared reliably following a decently loud beep to get my attention. —William Roberson, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

In celebration of the movie's 20th anniversary, take a look at which members of the cast has found love offscreen Comments Beep, beep, Herbie: Fully Loaded has officially turned 20! —Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 19 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

from beep-beep, imitative of the sound of a horn, or verbal derivative of beep entry 2

Noun

earlier beep-beep, imitative of the sound of a horn

First Known Use

Verb

1933, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1943, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for beep

• cheap
• creep
• deep
• heap
• jeep
• keep
• leap
• peep
• reap
• seep
• sheep
• sleep

Kids Definition

beep

noun

ˈbēp

: a sound that signals or warns

beep verb